Interview with William Benjamin Ray, Sr., August 11, 2014
Project: Black People in Lexington Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Dr. William B. Ray, Sr. talks about his childhood in segregated Lexington, the mentors who trained him in singing, his marriage and family, his experiences in the military, the beginning of his professional career, the professional experiences both in Europe and the United States, and his honors and awards.Interview Accession
Interviewee Name
Interviewer Name
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Interview Keyword
Army Black theater Production Brussels Carrie Kellogg Ray childhood, family, musical training Clariee Michaels composer education Elba Island elementary school Europe First Baptist Church France George Solti Harold Dean Head of Voice Department Howard University instructor Italy Joanna Offutt Julia Perry Karamu Theatre Cleveland (OH) Kentucky State College Lexington (Ky.) life routine of singers Marion Anderson mentor minister Oberlin (OH) Panama Canal Paul Robeson Peabody Conservatory recognition Rev. Homer Nutter segregation Segregation in Lexington (KY) Segregation in the U.S. Army Spellman College Stuttgart Germany teacher United States Washington DCInterview Rights
All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.Interview Usage
Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.Restriction
Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.
All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.
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Ray, William Benjamin, Sr. Interview by Yvonne Giles. 11 Aug. 2014. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Ray, W.B., Sr. (2014, August 11). Interview by Y. Giles. Black People in Lexington Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Ray, William Benjamin, Sr., interview by Yvonne Giles. August 11, 2014, Black People in Lexington Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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Persistent Link for this Record: https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7k6d5pc905